Dawn Tacker

Noah, age 16 months, loves dancing, climbing the stairs, racing up and down the hallway with his shopping cart, and in general running big circles around anyone over three feet tall. I can see how parents David and Tristine stay so fit! His enthusiasm for life is infectious, and was a welcome reminder of the […]

I had the pleasure earlier this week of photographing Matt as he embarks on his last year of high school. I’ll try not to embarrass him too much by gushing about him, but suffice it to say that I can only hope that my son grows up to be as independent and sure of himself. […]

I was so thrilled to hear that PJ, age two, and mom Tracey were back in town for a girls’ vacation after moving from Cardiff-by-the-Sea to the wilds of Indiana last Spring. Their last portraits with me were the evening that the fire storms started last Fall - a very memorable evening! I’m sad that […]

Sweet as a lamb but with a gorgeous lion-like mane - time to meet baby Leo! I had the pleasure of photographing his sister Berlin when she was one year old; now she is a big sister, and settling into her new role nicely. It has been fun for me to photograph Leo both on […]

Have I mentioned how much I love photographing newborn babies?! I have had some great opportunities recently to do so, and it is a joy each time. I was very honored to create Vivian’s first portraits on her seventh day of life. Even at such an early age she is inquisitive, wide-eyed, and very attached […]

Two baby boys, twice the love! Please join me in welcoming nine month-old brothers Sebastian and Christian and their family to the blog. With “big brother” Sunny the Dachshund, not only did I get my baby boy fix, but my doggie fix, too. Many thanks to Jennifer and Horst for the pleasure. Big hugs to […]

Perhaps I should have titled this post “The Dillinger and Daniel Show.” Daniel’s big “brother” Dillinger nearly stole the show at our family portrait session today. He is an incredibly loving, well-mannered dog. He definitely added character, but don’t worry, Matt and Joy - it was a well-rounded portrait session and there are some non-Dillinger […]

OK, raise your hands if you know about Quail Botanical Gardens! Extra points if you have a family membership to one of the most magical places in the county. I love shooting here. There is a peace that surrounds you the minute you close your car door and you start wandering along the footpaths. Tobey […]

I feel so lucky to have met my second new baby girl this week - sweet Madeline. She is almost seven weeks old, and already is incredibly aware of her surroundings. She sounds like a baby kitten, and just feels good in your arms. Congratulations to new parents Julie and Rob; thank you for asking […]

Nico just turned one year old! This was my second session in a series of three with his family; you might recognize him as one of the Best of 2007 contest winners! What a difference six months makes. Here is Nico at six months:

And here he is today:

Heidi and Greg - thanks for a wonderful […]

Please join me in welcoming baby Isabelle and her family to the blog! This was a very special visit; not only did she come down from Los Angeles with her parents, but this was her very first trip to the beach. How cool is that?! It was such a pleasure to meet her and parents […]

What a beautiful, ripe belly! I am so excited that Kyle and Birsen are expecting another child. I photographed their family unit a year ago - time flies! Now that Berlin is about to become a big sister, we’ll have another family portrait session when their newest arrives.

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Please join me in welcoming baby Chloe to the world. At just three weeks old, she has already become the center of love within her family. Big brothers Jack and Ben are pretty enamored with her, and parents Shawn and Nicole are charmed to add a girl to the team. It really is lovely to […]

Meet my newest friends - Ryden (age 10), Tavin (6.5), and Rumi (6 months). I was fortunate enough to meet them through the Sanderling Waldorf School. I could tell you all about them - but I think these portraits speak for themselves. Maybe we’ll get lucky, and Ryden will log in here to post a […]

The man behind the starfish portraits - Dr. Robert Biter. More on the plans for the portrait exhibit coming soon! We’ve been hoping to get Dr. B down to the beach for some portraits for a while; being a busy obstetrician has its obstacles! But it was worth the wait. I think we got some […]

Sad! Our starfish project is coming to an end. I loved meeting my two new families, baby Koa and parents Keith and Angela, and expectant parents Scott and Amy. The twins, Eden and Alex, I have had the pleasure of photographing since they were on the inside - I always love seeing them, each time […]

What a fun session this was! Meet brothers Aidan and Mason. They made it easy to create beautiful portraits. Many thanks to Amber and Dan for asking me to photograph your family.

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A few more families from the Starfish sessions… I met so many wonderful people tonight! Many thanks to all of the families who participated tonight, it was my pleasure.
First up - newborn baby girl! Meet Augustella, three weeks old, who was a champ during her very first visit to the beach:

So many gorgeous moms here […]

A beautiful evening at the beach with a friendly, lovable dog - what more could a girl ask for? Thank you so much to Kyla and boon companion Baxter for a very fun session!

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More from the starfish project! This was a very special session for me; this big, warm, Italian extended family is very tight-knit. Mario is the youngest of the four generations pictured here. Many thanks to great-grandmother Mary, grandmother Dorotea, and new mom Maria for the great session, and to the dads too! It was wonderful […]